# Starlette

> geodetic satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q519185](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q519185)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlette_and_Stella)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/starlette

## Summary  
Starlette is a geodetic satellite launched by France on February 6, 1975, to support research in geodesy—the science of measuring Earth's shape and gravitational field. It was launched using the Diamant rocket from the ELA-3 launch site.  

## Key Facts  
- Launched on **February 6, 1975** from **ELA-3** launch site  
- COSPAR ID: **1975-010A**  
- SCN (Spacecraft Number): **07646**  
- Instance of: **geodetic satellite**  
- Launch vehicle: **Diamant** (French expendable launcher)  
- Significant event: **Rocket launch**, date: **1975-02-06**, location: **ELA-3**  
- Wikipedia title: *Starlette and Stella*  
- Wikidata description: **geodetic satellite**  
- Google Knowledge Graph ID: **/g/122kc8p7**  
- Wolfram Language Entity Code: **Entity["Satellite", "07646"]**

## FAQs  
### Q: What is Starlette?  
A: Starlette is a geodetic satellite developed by France to study Earth’s shape and gravity field. It was launched into space on February 6, 1975.  

### Q: When was Starlette launched?  
A: Starlette was launched on **February 6, 1975**, using the **Diamant** rocket from the **ELA-3** launch complex.  

### Q: What was the purpose of the Starlette satellite?  
A: The purpose of Starlette was to assist in geodetic research, which involves precise measurement of Earth’s geometric shape, orientation in space, and gravitational field.  

## Why It Matters  
Starlette played a key role in advancing the scientific understanding of Earth's geometry and gravitational variations. As part of France's early space program, it contributed valuable data that improved models of the planet’s shape and supported applications in navigation, cartography, and geophysics. Its successful deployment demonstrated France's capability in launching dedicated scientific missions using domestic launch technology like the Diamant rocket. This made it an important milestone in both national and international efforts toward high-precision geodesy via satellite observation.

## Notable For  
- One of the first satellites specifically designed for **high-precision geodetic measurements**  
- Launched using **Diamant**, a **French-developed expendable launch system**  
- Provided foundational data for refining global models of Earth’s **gravitational field**  
- Part of a dual-satellite mission with **Stella**, enhancing mutual tracking and measurement accuracy  
- Identified by multiple authoritative identifiers including **COSPAR ID 1975-010A** and **SCN 07646**

## Body  

### Mission Overview  
Starlette is a **geodetic satellite** launched by France to conduct precise measurements related to Earth’s shape, rotation, and gravity field. These types of satellites are essential tools in modern geodesy, enabling scientists to refine global reference systems and improve navigational accuracy.

### Launch Details  
The satellite was successfully launched on **February 6, 1975**, at **ELA-3** (Europe's Launch Area 3), located at the Kourou Space Center in French Guiana. The launch utilized the **Diamant** rocket—a French-built, solid-fueled, expendable launcher used during the 1960s–1970s.

#### Key Launch Information:
- **Launch Date**: 1975-02-06  
- **Launch Site**: ELA-3  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Diamant  
- **Significant Event**: Rocket launch  
  - Location: ELA-3  
  - Point in time: 1975-02-06  

### Identification & Classification  
Starlette has been catalogued under several standard identification schemes used in aerospace and astronomy databases:

- **COSPAR ID**: 1975-010A  
- **SCN (Spacecraft Number)**: 07646  
- **Instance Of**: Geodetic satellite  
- **Wikidata Description**: Geodetic satellite  
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code**: Entity["Satellite", "07646"]  
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID**: /g/122kc8p7  

### Scientific Context  
As a geodetic satellite, Starlette contributed to the development of accurate terrestrial reference frames and helped calibrate instruments used in later Earth observation missions. By analyzing its orbital motion influenced by Earth’s gravity, researchers were able to map anomalies in the planet’s gravitational field.

It also participated in coordinated observations alongside another French satellite, **Stella**, allowing dual-satellite laser ranging experiments that enhanced precision in tracking and modeling.

### Cultural and Linguistic Presence  
The mission is documented across various language editions of Wikipedia:
- Languages: German (**de**), English (**en**), Spanish (**es**), French (**fr**), Galician (**gl**), Hungarian (**hu**)  
- Title: *Starlette and Stella*  

This multilingual documentation reflects its recognition within European scientific communities and broader public interest in space-based geodetic studies.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report